Physical therapy apparatus



pril 1 1955 M. L. c. CHANDLER PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS Filed Nov. 7, 1951 PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS Murray L. C. Chandler, Dallas, Tex.

Application November 7, 1951, Serial No. 255,209

2 Claims. (Cl. 272-80) This invention relates to physiotherapeutic apparatus and more particularly to counter-balanced means for the suspension of the affected limbs of bed patients suffering from poliomyelitis, arthritis, rheumatism, meningitis, muscular dystrophy, bone fracture and such other partially or grossly disabling afllictions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a medium of obtaining motion in the limbs of a patient suffering from any of the foregoing afflictions, consisting primarily of a frame adapted to be readily positioned so that its superstructure will overlie the bed of an afflicted patient and equipped with counter-balanced slings operating over pulleys suspended from the frame superstructure in such manner that the slings may conveniently support the weight of the afliicted limb along a line of action closely normal to the longitudinal axis of the afflicted limb irrespective of the position of the patient relative to the bed. Moreover, the invention seeks to approximate as closely as possible the function of water in hydrotherapy applications, due to the counter-balancing displacement of the weight of the afliicted limb which enables the therapist or the patient, in .some cases, to freely manipulate and exercise the limb and thus strengthen weak muscles or muscular groups.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of counter-balanced limb suspension elements supported from the superstructure of a frame, including means carried by said superstructure for adjusting limb suspending means to a wide variety of positions to accommodate the patient or the limbs of the patient on a bed within the confines of the frame, without disturbing the patient in any manner.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a counter-balancing weight adapted for use in conjunction with the described apparatus, which may be readily attached to and detached from the cable supporting a sling and consisting of a cylindrical container or cup adapted to contain a quantity of individual spherical weights, preferably in the form of shot. This affords a distinct advantage in that as strength is gradually restored in the muscles of the patients limb shot can be introduced or extracted as gradually from the container or cup, even without the patients knowledge, thus promoting more rapid recovery of the use of the aiflicted member.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of physiotherapeutical apparatus constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of one of the weight cups.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the limb suspension slings. 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the transverse members of the frame superstructure designed to adjustably support a predetermined number of the group of limb suspension elements, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the frame legs or uprights showing the connection therewith of an end bracing member.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral denotes each of the four legs or uprights of a frame whose length and breadth equal those of the bed over which it is to stand. The frame is constructed preferably of an angle-iron for lightness and strength and is braced longitudinally by nited States Patent 0 2,706,632 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 angle-irons 11, secured at their ends to the legs 10 as by welding or other suitable means, while transverse rods 12 afford lateral braces which are detachably secured to the legs 10 by virtue of threaded ends extending through openings in the legs and on which are nuts 13 which urge the legs against washers 14 welded on the rods 12. The rods 12 are made removable for convenience in installing the frame over the bed of a patient.

At the upper ends of legs 10 are transverse rods 15 parallel with rods 12 whose ends are joined to the legs in the same manner, that is, by nuts 13 threaded onto the ends of the rods which bear against the outer flanges of the legs to urge them against washers 14 welded to the rods.

. Extending longitudinally from the top of one leg 10 to the top of the other on each side of the frame is an angle-iron rail 16. The rails are so disposed that one flange 17 of each will lie in a vertical plane with their horizontal flanges 17a in confronting relationship. Each of the vertical flanges 17 is provided throughout its length with notches 18, the notches in one flange 17 being in alignment with the notches of the corresponding flange of the companion rail.

A plurality of transverse rails 19 extend from one to the other of the side rails 16, each transverse rail being also an angle-iron having a vertical flange 20 provided with notches 21 and which extends beyond the horizontal flange 22 of the rail (Fig. 4) to provide an extension 23. The horizontal flange 22 is equal in length to the distance between the confronting edges of the horizontal flanges 17a of the side rails 16 so that the ends of the flanges 22 will bear flush against the edges of the flanges 17a. The extensions 23 of the flanges 20 will rest on the flanges 17a and each extension 23 has formed thereon a projection 24 which is adapted to lie in a notch 18 in the flange 17 of a side rail 16.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the transverse rails 19 are adjustable longitudinally along the side rails 16 by lifting the ends thereof to free the projections 24 from the notches 18 so that they may be replaced in other selected notches in the side rails. The advantages of tihese adjustments will appear as the description procee s.

The end rods 15 and transverse rails 19 constitute the frame superstructure and which support a plurality of limb suspension assemblies. assembly is made up of a pulley 25 suspended from a transverse rail 19; a pulley 26 suspended from one or the other end rods 15; a cable 27 extending over the pulleys 25 and 26; a sling 28 carried by one end of the cable 27 and an adjustable weight 29, carried by the opposite end of the cable and movable vertically at one end of the frame to counter-balance the weight of a patients limb supported in the sling.

In Figure 4 is shown the manner in which the pulleys 25 are suspended for longitudinal adjustment along a transverse rail 19. A suspension bracket 30 of inverted U-shape has legs 31 supporting between them the pulley 25 on a shaft 31. The upper ends of the legs are turned at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the legs to form portions 32 which are received in notches 21 in the flange 20 of rail 19 and the portions 32 are jointed together by a cross-member 33 which bears against the inside of the vertical flange 20. The depending legs 30 of the bracket bear against the outside of the flange 20.

The pulleys 26 at the end of the frame are each supported between the legs of inverted U-shaped suspension brackets 34, the legs of each bracket being provided with aligned openings adjacent the bight of the bracket which receive the end rod 15. The brackets are thus suspended for independent sliding adjustment on the rod 15 at either end of the frame.

Each sling 28 is preferably constructed of sponge rubber having a fabric covering 35, attached as by lacing 36 for convenient replacement. The ends of the strip of sponge rubber are joined together to form the sling and between the ends is secured the shank of an eye 37 with which the sling is connected to a conventional snaphook 38 attached to an end of a cable 27.

Each limb suspension The counter-weights 29 are each made up of a cylindrical cup 39, to the bottom of which is afiixed a rod 40 which extends upwardly through the center of the cup and out of the top thereof and is formed with a hook 41 at its upper end to engage an eye 42. attached to. the opposite end of a cable 27. The cup 39 contains a predetermined number of spherical lead particles, preferably shot which may be conveniently placed in and removed from the cup and which serve to counter the weight of the atllicted arm or leg of a patient.

It is clearly evident from the foregoing that the suspension assemblies may be quickly adjusted to a variety of positions in the frame, depending on the position of the patient on a bed embraced by the frame,

hence any limb or in fact, all of the limbs of a patient may be supported and activated first, by a patient who has minimum strength remaining in the muscles atfiicted or by a nurse or other attendant. The system of counter-balancing displacement described is intended to substitute with as near equal results as possible the principal of hydro-therapy wherein Water sustains the limbs during exercise which have proven results in restoring muscular activity in the limbs atfected by disabling diseases. Additionally, it may be seen that the variety of positions of the suspension assemblies and the variety of weights obtained through introduction or extraction of shot from the weight cups may be employed to aid in the recovery of strength in one particular muscle or muscle group or in obtaining a particular motion.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

' l. A physical therapy apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be disposed over a bed, side members extending longitudinally of said frame on each side thereof at its top, each side member having a horizontal t flange and a vertical flange provided with longitudinally spaced notches, a rod extending transversely across each end of said frame on the same plane with said side members, at least one transverse member formed with a notched vertical flange having an extension from each end bearing upon the horizontal flanges of said side members and replaceably retained in selected notches in the vertical flanges of said side members, a bracket having a portion adapted to fit in said transverse member notches and replaceably retained thereby in suspended relation in selected notches of said transverse member, a second bracket supported for longitudinal movement on one of said rods, a pulley rotatable in each of said brackets, a cable operable over said pulleys, a sling on one end of said cable for supporting an afflicted limb of a patient on said bed and an adjustable counterweight suspended on the opposite end of said cable at the end of said frame.

2. A physical therapy apparatus including a frame adapted to be disposed over a bed and comprising a pair of parallel spaced longitudinal side members having confronting horizontal flanges and vertical flanges having longitudinally aligned notches; a pair of transverse end member connecting adjacent ends of said side members; a transverse member having a horizontal flange abutting at its ends against the edges of the horizontal flanges of said side members, said transverse member further having a vertical flange formed with longitudinally spaced notches and an extension at each end, said extensions bearing upon and supported by the horizontal flanges of said side members, said transverse member having projections on its extensions insertable in the aligned notches of said side members to support said transverse member in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions between said end members, a first pulley, a bracket supporting said first pulley having an upper portion engageable in selected notches of said transverse member to dispose said first pulley in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions between said side members, a second pulley mounted on one of said end members for longitudinal movement thereon, a cable extending over said pulleys, means on one end of said cable for attachment to an afflicted member of a patient on the bed, and means connected to the opposite end of said cable beneath said one of said end members for counterbalancing the weight of said afilicted member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,54'6 Dow Feb. 24, 1903 963,890 Haas July 12, 1910 1,709,153 Pownall Apr. 16, 1929- 1,722,757 Levine July 30, 1929' 1,837,872 Johnson Dec. 22, 1931 1,861,871 Morden June 7, 19-32 1,901,841 Ettinger Mar. 14, 1933 

